Seattle City Council: Ban the use and installation of smart meters

We oppose the mandatory installation of wireless smart meters in Seattle, and claim the right to keep using our analog utility meters, at no cost to us, and to refuse the installation of wireless smart meters. Smart meters harm our health, invade our privacy, breach our private security, interfere with other wireless devices, cause fires, produce billing inaccuracies, increase prices, undermine our quality of life, and even endanger our national security.

THE SMART METER SECTION OF THE US ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005 REQUIRES UTILITIES TO GAIN APPROVAL FROM CUSTOMERS PRIOR TO INSTALLING SMART METERS.

The ACT does not permit the Utilities to impose these meters on customers without consent. The proposed installation of over 400,000 smart meters by Seattle City Light, without express customer consent, would be a violation of the US Energy Policy Act of 2005, as well as a gross violation of citizens' civil rights. To date, customers have not been notified about, nor have they given consent to, current or future installations of wireless/smart meters.

U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL GROUPS WARN OF SERIOUS HEALTH DANGERS.

In May 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization classified EMF/RF fields as a class 2B possible human carcinogen. Other groups have documented harmful effects, including but not limited to, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine; Sweden’s Karolinksa Institute; Powerwatch, UK; the international BioInitiative Working Group; and the European Parliament. Entire countries such as France, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Finland, and Israel are taking precautions to protect their citizens from the dangers of wireless exposure.

Improperly installed or faulty wireless/smart meters have led to fires, inaccurate billing, and damages to appliances and other electronic devices. In addition, some customers have reported huge increases in monthly electric bills.

SMART METERS ENABLE GOVERNMENT/CORPORATE SURVEILLANCE.

A February 2012 Congressional Research Service Report reveals that wireless smart meters disclose people’s daily schedules, usage of appliances and electronic equipment, absences, and types of medical equipment. CIA Director David Petraeus recently confirmed that governments will use wireless smart appliances as spy devices. Wireless smart meters will track more private information than the GPS devices in our cars, and the US Supreme Court recently declared GPS tracking required a warrant.

THE SMART GRID NETWORK IS A BOON FOR HACKERS AND ENDANGERS NATIONAL SECURITY.

The Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency recognize the hacking and cyber-attack dangers from wireless smart meters and the smart grid network in which smart meters are embedded. Former CIA director James Woolsey called the program “a really, really, stupid grid.” Cyber expert David Chalk asserted in April 2012, “Unless we wake up and realize what we’re doing, there is 100% certainty of total catastrophic failure of the entire power infrastructure within 3 years.”

THESE METERS ARE BEING DEPLOYED WITHOUT INFORMING THE PUBLIC OF CURRENT AND FUTURE IMPACT.

Wireless/Smart meters generate microwave radiation, 24/7 penetrating all building materials, at home, schools, and workplaces. Pacific Gas and Electric reported that up to 190,000 messages can be communicated via one smart meter in only 24 hours. In a world already inundated with electromagnetic/radio frequencies (EMF/RF), these meters are designed to communicate with each other and will eventually link to all the “smart” appliances in our homes to produce an atmosphere even more saturated with EMF/RF—an atmosphere in which we will be expected to live.

LONG-TERM AND CUMULATIVE EXPOSURE TO SUCH MASSIVELY INCREASED EMF RF RADIATION HAS NO PRECEDENT IN HUMAN HISTORY.

WE REFUSE TO BECOME HUMAN GUINEA PIGS.

We have not been consulted about this program, and we do not give our consent.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, submit this petition as a claim of our right to retain and keep using our analog utility meters, at no cost to us, and to refuse the installation of wireless smart meters.

I just signed the following petition addressed to: Seattle City Council.

----------------Allow Seattle residents to retain their analog utility meters at no extra cost.

The petition allows Seattle residents to have freedom of choice involving their homes and offices. We oppose the mandatory installation of smart meters which can cause health effects, increase rates, and invade privacy. ----------------